Shinedown – The Warner Sound Live Room EP

Shane | 7 June 2013 | Reply

Label – Atlantic Records
Released – 28th May 2013
Reviewed by Matt Karpe
10/10

As part of the ongoing Live Room series, Shinedown entered a Hollywood studio to contribute four tracks from 2012’s ‘Amaryllis’ album and a closing cover song.

Opener ‘Bully’, the big single from ‘Amaryllis’ is a crowd favourite when played live, and it’s a high quality performance in slightly different circumstances here. Brilliant frontman Brent Smith’s vocals don’t need the full blooded energy like when on stage, but his voice is still strong and the words are heartfelt. The guitar work is also less fraught, as you can picture the band just jamming in the studio in laid back style.

‘I’ll Follow You’ is beautifully performed as a nice piano undertone helps the music flow peacefully and Smith’s best vocal performance on the EP is filled with emotion.

‘Amaryllis’ is in the same mould and then ‘Miracle’, a standout track from the studio album is performed in unplugged manor. The delicate guitar hook from Zach Myers is note perfect and all in all, ‘Miracle’ is the best song out of the five on show.

Closer ‘I Feel the Earth Move’, a cover from Carole King’s classic 1971 album ‘Tapestry’ begins with bluesy piano, and the drumming from Barry Kerch is dominant throughout. Smith’s vocals are lively and impressive as Shinedown put a really good spin on a song over forty years old.

Shinedown are one of the best live bands around, but this EP is a nice mellow insight that we don’t often get to see; a chilled out rock band having fun whilst still showing class in abundance.

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